Game age ratings in Brazil: what changed with interactivity and the ECA Digital law

Anyone opening a phone or console store in Brazil today will notice that many popular games have changed their rating badge. Titles that for years were shown as suitable for all ages now display 14 or 16, and some sports games with paid random packs went up to 18. The games did not suddenly change: what changed is how Brazil assesses what suits each age.

This guide explains, in plain language, what Brazil's age rating system (classificação indicativa) is, which rules came into force between 2025 and 2026, and what that means in practice for players and for the people who look after them. All information comes from the sources listed at the end; this is not legal advice.

What the age rating is

The classificação indicativa is a public policy of Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security. It tells you the age below which a film, show, app or game is not recommended. The name says it all: it indicates, it does not forbid. The final decision about what a child plays stays with the family, and the rating exists so that decision is an informed one.

The traditional ratings are General audiences (letter L), 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. To reach a rating, the analysis looks at themes such as violence, sex and nudity and drugs, plus finer descriptors like bad language, fear and criminal acts. Each descriptor has a weight, and the result points to the rating.

The new rating: not recommended under 6

On October 15, 2025, Ministry Ordinance No. 1,048 created a rating between General and 10: not recommended for children under 6. The goal is to separate what is calm enough for early childhood from what needs a little more maturity, without pushing everything to the 10 rating. It applies to audiovisual works, apps and games.

The big change: interactivity now counts

The same ordinance added a new axis of analysis: interactivity. Before, a game was assessed mostly by what it showed on screen. Now what it lets you do also counts: talking to strangers, buying items, getting recommendations from an algorithm, sharing content made by other people.

When presenting the rule, the government gave clear examples of why: an unknown adult talking to a child inside an online game, or an algorithm leading someone to inappropriate content. That is why a game can have colorful graphics and no violence and still lose its General rating if it has open chat or in-game purchases.

In short: the rating no longer looks only at content, it also looks at the environment. Chat, purchases and automatic recommendations weigh on the rating.

ECA Digital and loot boxes

The second piece is Law No. 15,211/2025, known as the ECA Digital, signed in September 2025 and in force since March 17, 2026. It deals with protecting children and teenagers in digital services and has one point that directly affects games: paid random reward boxes, the famous loot boxes.

The law describes these systems as paid features that hand out virtual items or random advantages without the player knowing in advance what they will get. Games with this kind of mechanic cannot be offered to people under 18. In practice, titles with paid random packs started being rated 18+, and the press reported sports games in that situation.

The law also asks for safeguards in games with text, voice or video chat: reporting channels, follow-up on reports, moderation and tools for parents and guardians to control these features.

What happened to the best-known games

Under the new rules, several re-ratings were reported in 2026. Reports published one month after the ECA Digital took effect said Fortnite, Roblox and Free Fire were not recommended under 16, citing continuous engagement and algorithmic recommendation among the reasons, and that Minecraft moved from General to 14. Ratings can be reviewed after appeals by the companies, so always check the current badge in the store before buying or downloading.

Practical tips for families

• Look at the badge and at the descriptors. The rating gives the age; the descriptors give the reason (violence, purchases, interaction). Sometimes the reason is just the chat, and that can be adjusted.
• Set up the device's parental controls before handing over the game. Consoles, phones and stores have options to limit purchases, chat and screen time.
• Turn off or restrict chat with strangers. Many games let you limit conversation to approved friends.
• Require a password or approval for purchases. That way no random pack or virtual currency is bought without you knowing.
• Play together the first few times. It is the fastest way to understand what is good about the game and where the risks are.
• Talk about the reason for the rule. Explaining that the limit is about purchases or strangers works better than just saying no.

Practical tips for players

• If one of your games moved up a rating, it did not disappear: the rating is a recommendation. Agree with your parents or guardians on how to keep playing safely.
• Never share personal data in chat, including your full name, school or address.
• Use the report and block buttons when someone insists on a strange conversation or asks for photos, data or money.
• Be suspicious of anyone promising free items in exchange for your password. Nobody legitimate needs your password.

Why it matters

The change may look bureaucratic, but it recognizes something parents and players already knew: in online games, the biggest risk is almost never in the art style. It is in who talks to you, what they try to sell you and how much time the game was built to hold your attention. The new rating tries to put that on the badge, where everyone can see it.

No badge replaces close attention. The rating is a starting point for the conversation at home, and each platform's control tools are what turn that conversation into real settings.